Windhoek, Namibia

Windhoek is the capital and largest city in Namibia. Located right in the heart of the country, about 1,700 m (5,600 ft) above sea level, Windhoek covers 645 sq km (249 sq mi) and has a population of 250,000 people (2011 estimate). Being far larger than any other city in the country, Windhoek is the center of all activities in Namibia.

Windhoek experiences a semi-arid climate. Annual precipitation is 362 mm (14.25 in). Wettest month is March, which receives 79 mm (3.11 in) of precipitation. July is the coldest month here, with average low temperatures of 6°C (43°F). Hottest month is December, when the average high temperature touches 30°C (86°F).

Windhoek is known in Khoekhoe as ǀAiǀǀGams, meaning "hot springs", and in Otjiherero as Otjomuise, meaning "place of steam". In either case, the city was traditionally named after the hot springs in the area. The area was first established by Jonker Afrikaner in 1840. He built a church and a school, which attract more people to settle.

Windhoek Railway Station, Windhoek, Namibia
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bahnhof_Windhoek.jpg
Lonelyplanet


Christuskirche, Windhoek
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christuskirche_Windhoek_02.jpg
Harald Süpfle


When the British annexed Walvis Bay, the Germans reenforced their position by stationing a garrison in Windhoek. On 18 October 1890 the town of Windhoek was founded by Major Curt von François when he laid the foundation stone for a fort there. An influx of immigrants soon arrived from Germany and South Africa.

German colonial occupation came to an end during World War I. South African troops captured Windhoek in 1915 for the British Empire. After a couple of decades of stagnation, Windhoek began to grow once more after World War II. In 1990, it was chosen to be the capital of South-West Africa, and later became the capital of the Republic of Namibia.

St Mary's Cathedral, the main church for the Roman Catholics in Windhoek
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Windhoek_Catholic_Church.JPG
ElGringoLoco

Visiting Windhoek

The Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport (WDH) is located some 45 km (28 mi) to the east of downtown Windhoek. It receives flights from Accra, Cape Town, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, Luanda, Lüderitz, Lusaka, Maun, Munich, Victoria Falls and Walvis Bay, among others.

Places of Interest in Windhoek

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Dear visitor, thank you so much for reading this page. My name is Timothy Tye and my hobby is to find out about places, write about them and share the information with you on this website. I have been writing this site since 5 January 2003. Originally (from 2003 until 2009, the site was called AsiaExplorers. I changed the name to Penang Travel Tips in 2009, even though I describe more than just Penang but everywhere I go (I often need to tell people that "Penang Travel Tips" is not just information about Penang, but information written in Penang), especially places in Malaysia and Singapore, and in all the years since 2003, I have described over 20,000 places.

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